ROHbot Report
Worth Your Money? ROH Bluegrass Brawl Featuring The Briscoes vs. The American Wolves, Tyler Black vs. Claudio Castagnoli, A Spirited Debut, And More
By James Bullock
Dec 4, 2010 - 9:19 AM

Being from Virginia, I know a little bit about bluegrass. I mean the actual grass, not the folk style of music associated with the same word (I do know of it, as you can see). But I can say that I've ever witnessed a bluegrass brawl … until Ring of Honor made its debut in Louisville in the famous Davis Arena – an arena that has seen the crème de la crème of top WWE talent over the past decade. From John Cena, to Randy Orton, to CM Punk, to former WWE and UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, they all have their names associated with the Midwest's ECW Arena.
On this event, the stars of ROH hope to add another notch to their belts by competing in the famous arena. ROH World champion Tyler Black hopes to best fellow champion Claudio Castagnoli in a non-title affair. The Briscoes and The American Wolves restart their rivalry as The Briscoes hope to gain another Tag Team title shot, while The Wolves prove that even though their focus has shifted to their respective careers, Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards are one of the best teams in the world today. A lot is riding on this show for ROH and the Midwest. More importantly – your dollars are riding on whether or not ROH Bluegrass Brawl is Worth Your Money.

Bluegrass Brawl
Louisville, KY
7/22/10

Executive Producer Jim Cornette introduced the thankful crowd to ROH that's making its debut in Louisville tonight. Not only will we see Ring of Honor wrestlers in action, but OVW wrestlers will also be in action.

Beef Wellington vs. Paredyse
Paredyse is a great, flamboyant character influenced by all the hated gay wrestlers from the past. Come to think of it – has there ever been a gay babyface? Wellington didn't take kindly to Paredyse's antics by dropkicking him to the floor. When the action returned inside, Wellington missed a Stinger splash that propelled Beef outside. Paredyse followed up his avoidance with a baseball slide. Paredyse was in complete control as the flower in his hair slowly floated down his mane.
Paredyse used a flying clothesline off an Irish whip to gain a near fall. When he tried the combo again, Paredyse got caught with a punch to the abdomen. Paredyse found himself being punched and kicked around the ring before blocking a Lung Blower attempt. Paredyse hit the ropes for a neck breaker, but Wellington countered with a clothesline attempt. Paredyse spun around the incoming arm, hitting his neck breaker. Instead of going for the pin, Paredyse grabbed Beef in hopes of picking his limp body off the mat. Wellington was playing possum – rolling Paredyse for the flash three count.

OVW Southern Tag Team title: The Elite (c) vs. Sucio & Fang
Ted McNailer of The Elite kicked this one off with Sucio. Both men found themselves evenly matched on the mat until McNailer found himself stuck in a side headlock. McNailer tagged out to Adam Revolver, but Revolver found himself being double teamed and arm wrenched. McNailer tagged in, only to get caught with a moonsault from the now legal Fang. A mistimed charge from McNailer allowed Fang to send Ted into his partner. Following a double team baseball slide on The Elite, Fang assisted his partner in a somersault plancha hurricarana on Revolver. A quick distraction from Revolver stopped Fang's momentum, and left him open for a top rope assisted neck breaker.
The champs focused on Fang's limbs and neck. Revolver wanted to superplex Fang, but the challenger fought him and McNailer off before tagging out. Sucio was on fire. Big double knees from the top by Sucio almost gained him the three count. The champs teamed up, but it only left Revolver open for a super hurricarana. When the challengers attempted to do the same on Ted, McNailer speared Fang out of midair. Revolver hooked Sucio from behind, pinning him with some help from the ropes.

Sara Del Rey w/Kings of Wrestling vs. Daizee Haze
An honorable handshake between two of ROH's fiercest female rivals since Haze and Lacey a few years ago. Del Rey tried to corner Haze, but the smaller, faster competitor used a hit and run method. Haze avoided a wild kick; dumping Del Rey to the floor. Haze jumped off the top, only to get caught by The Kings. Haze found herself gently placed back in the ring by the ROH World Tag Team champions. When Haze turned around, Del Rey almost kicked her chest in. A one-arm hair mare by Del Rey. Sara had no problems kicking Haze around, or blocking Daizee's comebacks. Del Rey hooked Haze's legs in a cloverleaf that put a tremendous amount of pressure across Haze's back. Del Rey wanted to honor Claudio with the big swing, but almost got herself rolled up instead. Another big boot to Daizee's chest ended any kind of momentum Haze attempted to gain. Del Rey used her own big swing while holding Daizee in a double chicken wing.
The fans approved of Del Rey kicking the wind, and near life out of Haze. Haze turned a failed crucifix into an octopus. Unfortunately for Haze, Del Rey kept her balance and pushed Haze into the turnbuckles. Fortunately for Daizee, Sara blocked her monkey flip attempt. The reason Haze's failure turned into a plus for Daizee was Haze countered Sara's block with a face buster. Daizee connected with the Heart Punch/yakuza kick combo, but couldn't follow up with the German suplex. The Kings decided to get involved as Haze scaled the ropes. The referee saw their interference and sent them back to the locker room. Del Rey yanked Haze off the top for a power bomb. Haze countered with a bridging sunset flip to pick up the somewhat surprising three count.

Delirious vs. Mike Mondo
Mondo is formerly "Mikey" from WWE's Spirit Squad. Mondo's noticeably bigger since that gimmick ended. The fans immediately got on Mike's back with "Spirit Squad" chants. When the bell rang, Delirious had Mondo running in fear. Mondo tried to punk Delirious out off the clean break following a tie up. Delirious one-upped Mike with a shove, then a quick display of his agility and speed that frustrated Mondo. Pro Delirious chants didn't help Mike's confidence much – or Delirious outsmarting him before washing his face with spit-covered hands. Delirious lost his focus when he followed Mike to the floor due to seeing an attractive hat.
Mondo slammed Delirious' masked face against the steel ring post. Somersault dive off the apron by Mondo downed Delirious, and put the masked man at a disadvantage for the first time. Delirious survived a rear chin lock, and a nice combination as Delirious dangled from the ropes. Mike wanted to fly. Mondo took too much time posing – allowing Delirious to move before being splash. Delirious had Mike looking for haven after several attacks. Mondo avoided the Cobra Stretch, but not that kneeling downward spiral. Mike stopped Delirious' ascent up the ropes with a head scissors that tossed Delirious halfway across the ring. Flying head-butt occurred after Mondo's impressive show of agility. Delirious freed himself from Mondo's grip before dropkicking him into the corner for the Panic Attack. The crowd in Davis Arena wanted Shadows Over Hell, and they got it. The pin fall was elementary at that point.

ROH World Tag Team champion Chris Hero vs. Colt Cabana
The Midwest explodes in this one, folks. Cabana's antics frustrated Hero in the opening minutes. As frustrating as Colt tactics are for his opponent, they never get old for yours truly. Hero tried to out-Cabana Colt, but that didn't go too well, either. Hero used the ref to slip between him and Cabana so Chris could unleash a stiff forearm that knocked Colt outside. Following a dropkick through the ropes, Hero had Cabana stuck in a cravat; seasoned with some knees. Hero took his flash kicks up a notch by kicking Cabana's head as he hung across the side of the ring. Cabana worked his way out of a rear chin lock, but found his face meeting Hero's boot again. When Colt got up after fighting through Chris' chancery, Hero unleashed a perfect elbow. Cabana tried to fight, but that elbow rocked his equilibrium.
Hero grabbed Cabana for another elbow; only for "Boom Boom" to turn Hero's attack into an unsuccessful backslide. Colt bounced off the ropes after the failed pinning combinations with a clothesline that left "That Young Knockout Kid" staggering. Hero felt some Dusty-like strikes before Colt hit the ropes. Hero saw Cabana coming; hitting the ropes on Cabana's left for another flash kick. Cabana kicked out before the three count. Huge elbow on Cabana's cheek didn't keep him down. Colt stopped the cravatoclasm, hitting a flying butt-butt. The crowd had dueling chants going as Hero stopped the Flying Apple with a forearm to the back of Colt's head. Cabana countered the Deathblow amidst chants of "Knock him out" with a roll up. Cabana kept Hero's shoulders to the mat for those precious three seconds.

Austin Aries & The All Night Express vs. Roderick Strong & The House of Truth w/Truth Martini
Of course A-Double had a few words before the first bell. Austin dissed KFC for the simple fact he hates the state America's favorite fried chicken originated from. Aries also hated rip offs. Across from Aries stood four men he felt were pale imitations of himself and his boys. Strong stopped Aries's tirade to allow Martini to exclaim, "It's time for a change!"
Martini's men didn't do too well with the verbal assist from Truth Martini by getting tossed outside. All six men were doing battle until Roderick and his men pitched Aries, Titus and King to the floor. Strong didn't wait for them to reenter by dropkicking Titus when King and Aries moved away. Strong chopped Titus until he was stuck in the HOT's corner. Quick tags and even quicker attacks had Titus reeling while looking for a tag. Titus kept feeling pain off of double teams; including the assisted power bomb that saw Able slam Raymond across Titus' back.
Thankfully for Rhett, Able lost his footing in a waist lock, and King tagged himself in for a clothesline off of Titus' inverted atomic drop. Aries was having a great time raking Able's face with his boots. Sexy suplex by Titus after tagging back in. King helped his partner hit a series of impressive kicks, but their attacks couldn't keep Able down for the three count. Able's jawbreaker out of Aries' rear chin lock didn't allow him to tag out due to Titus and King knocking Raymond and Strong off the apron. King tagged in so he could blockbuster Able onto Titus' knees. King got a little too agile when he tried to leap over an incoming Christian. Able caught King in midair before slamming him Alabama style. Able and King made it to Strong and Aries respectively.
Generation Next explodes … again. Aries had Strong rocking until he went go chop for chop with Strong. Aries poked Roderick's eyes, but it didn't blind Strong long enough to stop Strong from hoisting Aries off the mat and hitting the gut-buster. Aries flipped out of Roderick's backbreaker attempt; hooking Strong in the Last Chancery. Strong rolled into the submission; almost pinning Aries with a small package. When Aries kicked out, Strong hooked him for the Gibson Driver. In an impressive show of agility, Aries used a hurricarana to counter the match-ending move. Aries followed up with the IED, but couldn't get a pin off the attack. Titus returned before downing Strong with the Muff Driver. Able ran in, only to take a hotshot by King for his trouble. Raymond leapt off the top when King got to his feet with a corkscrew plancha from the top. Titus wanted to fly, too.
Turning around, Titus found himself face to face with Truth Martini as the referee checked on the bodies on the floor. Titus ducked Martini's "Book of Truth" swing; punching Martini to the floor. Titus bounced off the ropes for whatever leaping attack he had in mind. Before Titus could complete his intentions, Roderick exploded out of the corner with a flying big boot that almost turned Titus inside out. Strong fell on top of Titus to pick up the victory for his team.

ROH World champion Tyler Black vs. ROH World Tag Team champion Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio enjoyed showcasing his strength advantage by tossing Black around while taunting him. Even when Black tried to pick up the pace, he found Claudio's strength overcoming Black's speed. For the first time since his World title win, Black lost his cool when things weren't going for him in the early going. Black pretty much said "F*** it" after throwing Claudio outside and beating him with the help of the barricades and ring steps. Black turned the tables by sending Black against the steel guardrails. Claudio reentered the ring while looking for a baseball slide when Black rose. Instead, Claudio's head met Black's boots. Slingshot spinning heel kick by Black after pitching Claudio back in. Off the ten mounted punches in the corner, Tyler unleashed a vicious soccer kick to Castagnoli's back. Black used an Indian deathlock to a huge, old school ovation. Claudio was ready for Black's dropkick off the back flip, poking Black in the eyes after hiding behind the referee.
Claudio had his sights set on Black's lower back. Several tilt-a-whirl backbreakers, elbow drops, and a humbling camel clutch had the fans chanting for the U.S. and Switzerland. Claudio actually allowed Black to fight back a little bit to make Black swing himself into a huge gut-wrench suplex. The ROH World champion dropkicked the incoming Tag champion after Black worked his way out of the Japanese stranglehold. Black sailed over the top, somersaulting on top of Claudio following a dropkick that knocked Castagnoli outside. Black fired himself up after the springboard clothesline for a running forearm/basement dropkick combo. The dropkick left Claudio in position for that standing shooting star press.
Claudio fought the F5, clotheslining Black off his feet instead of hitting the mat himself. Black found himself in the stranglehold again. When Black refused to give up, Claudio showed his incredible strength by hip dropping Black before German suplexing Tyler in one swift motion. I think there's been a sighting. Yes, the UFO landed, and Tyler Black felt its swinging light. Black quickly recovered before connecting with an enzuguri to set up the F5. Black's back didn't have enough strength for the World champion to toss Claudio with Brock Lesnar's favorite move.
Black and Claudio were going strike for strike until Black ran into the pop up European uppercut. Castagnoli followed up with the Ricola Bomb, but Black shockingly kicked out. Claudio was so frustrated, he almost thought about clubbing Black with the Tag Team title belt. The referee stopped Claudio, and almost cost him the match when Tyler caught Castagnoli off guard via a roll up. Black wanted to sail off the top, but got bicycle kicked instead. Black stopped the super Ricola Bomb, turnbuckle power bombing Claudio. Castagnoli avoided the kneeling super kick, hitting the ropes for a springboard European uppercut. In a great show of timing, Black super kicked Castagnoli out of midair. The ROH Tag champ rose to his knees, tasting that kneeling super kick before being pinned in this incredible contest.

The Briscoes vs. The American Wolves
Mark Briscoe's wild, hillbilly, monkey style stance actually cause Eddie Edwards to rethink starting off the match. Davey Richards took his partner's spot; leading to a hold exchange between the tooth-full and the somewhat toothless. Davey used his agility to kick himself out of a top wristlock. Eddie and Jay Briscoe tagged in – leading to a stalemate between the two. Jay showed that he's not just a southern brawler until Davey reentered and started striking with the older Briscoe. Mark helped his brother send Eddie outside before double hip tossing and kicking Davey across the ring. The fans were behind The Briscoes after their always-impressive double teams. Davey avoided Jay's incoming attack before kicking Mark on the floor. Richards' lured Jay into Eddie's flying kick by giving him the finger after stopping Jay's Irish whip. Eddie took advantage of Davey pitching Jay to the floor by slamming Briscoe on the padded concrete before kicking him in the back. When Eddie became the legal man, he ran into Jay's downward spiral against the turnbuckles. Mark and Jay shoulder tackled Edwards upside down to another nice ovation from Louisville.
Eddie didn't want to be in The Briscoes' corner, but found himself stuck there due to the Delawareans strategy. Richards stopped Mark's camel clutch, but couldn't get Eddie close enough to him. Fortunately for Eddie, he back dropped Jay after a failed Irish whip. Davey took advantage of Jay trying to kick him in hopes of stopping Davey's movement toward him by catching Jay's leg and swinging it to Eddie. Edwards grabbed Jay's leg, dragon screw leg whipping Jay's limp across the middle rope. The Wolves tasted blood streaming from Jay's wounded leg. Davey taunted Mark for a distraction so Eddie could help Davey gain some torque on a hammerlock cloverleaf. Figure four leg lock by Eddie sent "whoos" through the crowd. Jay turned the move on Eddie, but Davey saved his partner with a flying head-butt. Jay had to fight both Wolves, but ended up in the Achilles Lock. Before Jay could submit, Mark ran in to punch Eddie. Edwards took the strikes before spitting in Mark's face as retaliation. Davey yanked Mark outside as Eddie elevated his patented hold. Jay made it to the ropes, but found himself without a brother on the apron.
The Briscoe felt Eddie's double stomp off of Davey's back spin kick, but Davey forgot he wasn't the legal man. Davey lost his chance to pin Jay, but not his chance to suplex him on his head. Mark returned with a flying clothesline on Eddie. Mark became the legal man; giving some Hillbilly Kung Fu Theater Flying Edition. The youngest Briscoe was firing off exploder suplexes and ace crushers. Iconoclasm on Eddie couldn't get Mark the three count. Mark scaled the ropes, only to get caught by Davey and Eddie's flying knee. Huge superplex ended Mark's momentum as the fans chanted, "This is awesome!" Davey tagged in, almost kicking Mark's chest in. Handspring enzuguri by Davey for a near fall. Mark flipped out of the corner after kneeing Davey on the chin. Jay reentered as the legal man before using a Death Valley driver on Davey. Richards stopped the Jay Driller, but not Mark's dragon suplex. Mark jumped to his feet, only to be missile dropkicked by Edwards. Jay and Eddie were trading big kicks until they threw clotheslines that downed each other. "ROH" chants ran through Davis Arena.
Jay and Eddie returned to their feet for another strike exchange. Jay seemingly won until he ran into the Alarm Clock. Somehow, Jay kicked out of the super kick/German suplex/jackknife cradle pin. Mark stopped the Wolves next double team by super ace crushing Davey. Jay took a super kick from Eddie to unleash a clothesline. Spike Jay Driller on Eddie for the 1, 2, 3.

Is It Worth Your Money: If there was every a one/two knockout needed for a show, it's this one. That's not to say that the action was bad, but the first night curse returned, and everything before the final two matches were average at best. Like several shows so far, this one started off slow with the opener being something of a DVD extra (along with two actual good matches). Time actually hampered the OVW Tag title match because they were just getting in a good grove when it ended. Del Rey vs. Haze made no sense from an ending standpoint for the simple fact Del Rey's got Kong in one of the most hyped matches of the weekend two nights later, as well as a six-person tag twenty-four hours later. Haze? Well, her weekend's pretty much done. So why have Haze pin Del Rey even off a flash pin? Mondo vs. Delirious was like something off of a WWF Superstars main event (and I don't mean the now Thursday night version). Cabana and Hero had a nice back and forth, but nothing too memorable – same can be said about the six-man tag that only got hot when Strong and Aries tagged in.
Then the show kicked it into high gear (finally) with Black vs. Claudio. Absolutely insane match between these ROH's champions. Like his match with Hero, Black played a perfect babyface champion with an edge to him that you wouldn't expect. I can't say how much Castagnoli has grown since his disappointing feud with Nigel McGuinness over the title two years ago. If the Claudio here was the Claudio in 2008, he'd be a former ROH World champion by now. The crazy thing is the main event, as good as it was, couldn't match the intensity of the previous match, or their match in Phoenix during Wrestlemania weekend. But they did give us another incredible contest that both teams are known for. This is one of the toughest finalizations yet because the last two matches are desirably good, but the rest of the card is disappointingly average. ROH's The Bluegrass Brawl Is A Bargain Bin Purchase.